Remember when your mailbox was more than a place to collect utility bills and flyers for the local pizzeria? The days when you sent letters, postcards, and event invitations on actual paper? Back then, your worries were color schemes, fonts, and paper weights.
Today, nobody sends postal invites—apart from weddings and exclusive members’ clubs. Instead, people send event invitations on Facebook.
If event marketing is part of your Facebook marketing, you need to catch the eye of the social media scroller. And the Facebook event cover photo is the first thing they’ll see—so make sure you get the size and design right.
- 1920 x 1005 pixels – this is the standard size for best quality across all screen sizes
- 1.91 : 1 ratio – if you want to be precise
- 1200 x 628 pixels – is also noted as being acceptable, but the image will need to stretch to fit desktop screens
Even if you vary from the suggested pixels, stick to a roughly 2:1 ratio so the image displays correctly across all devices.
But Facebook being Facebook, it’s not as easy as a pretty picture with the right dimensions. Oh no.
Read on for all you need to know about Facebook event photo sizes.
Need some event inspiration? Here’s how four big companies manage their events with Typeform.
The real Facebook event photo size
Things rarely stay still in the Facebook world.
That’s why a quick scan of Google search results for “Facebook event photo size 2022” brings up 673,000,000 results, with many of them providing conflicting results.
On Google’s first page alone, results range from 500 x 262 pixels, to 1000 x 524 pixels, to the previous specs of 1920 x 1080 pixels—which most sites still list as the correct size.
How to add a Facebook event header
To add a Facebook event cover photo, you need to be an admin of the event. If you’re not, you need to ask someone who is to make you an event host.
Then follow these simple steps:
Click “Add Event Photo” at the top right of the event page
Choose your photo and reposition it if necessary
Click “Save Changes”
You can’t edit the size of your uploaded photo. But you can reposition a picture that doesn’t exactly meet the specs.
Want to step it up a notch? Use a video in the banner for your Facebook event. Facebook recommends videos between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
Bonus: You can also add photos and videos to the event page itself. You can even let your guests add them for that crowdsourced community feeling by adding them as co-hosts.
Want some tips for your other Facebook images? Check out our guides on Facebook cover photo size and Facebook ad specs.
Where will the event photo show up?
There are four main places where the event banner will show up for Facebook users and invitees. These are:
The Facebook Newsfeed. On desktop this displays as 470 x 174 pixels and on mobile as 560 x 208 pixels.
Main event page. Right there at the top.
Upcoming events. The image will be displayed as a thumbnail.
Suggested Events. If your event is public, it’ll appear to other Facebook users as a thumbnail.
So choose a high-quality photo that will look amazing at different resolutions and sizes—on both desktop and mobile.
What makes a good Facebook event header?
Let’s start off with what makes a bad Facebook event header.:
Blurry. Your image is too small for larger screens.
Generic stock image. But there are exceptions, like these beautiful free stock photos sites.
Unrelated to your brand. Who are you anyway?
Too much text. Facebook prefers ads and event photos with minimal text. See if your image meets their guidelines with their image text check.
Also, Facebook says you shouldn’t include contact information like a URL, email address, or phone number in the event banner.
Now let’s look at what makes a good Facebook event header:
Unique, eye-catching image. Attract the attention of people who may not even be aware of your company.
Supports your brand. Use images with similar color schemes, fonts, and your logo.
Event details. Add the date, time, venue, and any special guests.
Clarity. Help Facebook users instantly understand what the event is about.
Got a recurring event? Make a template image that you can easily edit with updated details of the next event.
And how do you make good event? Read how we’re trying to turn events into experiences.
What are some good examples of Facebook event photos?
Some brands have nailed it when it comes to creating eye-catching, relevant, and interesting Facebook event photos. Here are some of the best to inspire your own creation.
The Color Run
Even if you weren’t familiar with what a color run was before, The Color Run’s Facebook event photo explains it pretty well. It quickly catches your attention, it’s on brand, and it makes the event look really fun.
Alaska Airlines Bay to Breakers
The Bay to Breakers 12k race held in San Francisco every year added a video as its event cover.
Not only does the video explain exactly what you can expect in this race, it also sells it as a must-attend event with a sense of community—which ties into its brand values.
The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show
British newspaper The Telegraph didn’t just make a quirky image for its Ski and Snowboard Show event banner. It also clearly shows the date and location, without affecting the design and layout.
Summing up: event photo size does matter
Most people are overwhelmed by the amount of events on Facebook. So overwhelmed that they end up ignoring most of them. That blurry, stock image that was taken with a first-gen iPhone just won’t cut it.
If you want to use Facebook events as a key part of your social media marketing strategy, then you need a photo that hooks your audience immediately.
Get it right, and you’ve taken your first small step towards a successful event.